“One other firm conclusion is that the widely predicted growth in the role of the line manager is now happening. Indeed, this is the main change that has taken place over the last three years. Half of the respondents surveyed indicated that their most recent activity was initiated by their line manager. If the usefulness of the training had been explored after the event, it was overwhelmingly likely to be the line managers who undertook that discussion. The role of the HR department/training managers as intermediaries in the process is decreasing. We are devolving responsibility to the line managers. This is good news in the sense that the line manager is closest to the individual and best placed to assess their needs.”Martyn Sloman, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), November 2008 (pdf)